Tuesday, February 4, 2014

TSA Travel Tips Tuesday: Valentine's Day Travel Pointers

Valentine’s
Day is just around the corner, so I thought it would be a good idea to dedicate
this week’s travel tips to Valentine’s Day related items. Here are some common
items we see around this time of year.

Chocolates – Regular and cream/liquid
filled chocolates are good to go.

Perfume – Bottles 3.4 ounces and smaller
are permitted in your carry-on bag as long as they are placed in the baggie per
the 3-1-1 liquid guidelines. Larger bottles may be packed in
your checked baggage.

Flowers - You can bring fresh flowers
through the checkpoint, but not in a container filled with water. We suggest
wrapping the stems in damp paper towels and plastic wrap or foil to keep them
hydrated while you travel.

Gift
Baskets – Gift
baskets often contain lotions, oils, and perfumes. If you’re carrying these
items through the checkpoint, they must adhere to the 3-1-1 liquid guidelines.

Wrapped
Gifts – It’s
permissible to pack wrapped gifts in your bags, but if the gift alarms or
requires additional screening, we’ll have to unwrap it.

Destination
Weddings – If
you have a destination wedding planned for Valentine’s Day, be sure to check out
this blog post on traveling with a wedding dress.

Why is one large bottle of perfume not allowed to be carried on but several smaller bottles are permitted? It is the same volume of liquid. The larger bottle could even be put inside ziplock bag too if you are concerned about limiting the total volume.

Of course I don't see why liquids are still banned. You've shown on this blog that you can test liquids. Random liquid testing would be sufficient to limit threats.

Why is one large bottle of perfume not allowed to be carried on but several smaller bottles are permitted? It is the same volume of liquid. The larger bottle could even be put inside ziplock bag too if you are concerned about limiting the total volume.

Of course I don't see why liquids are still banned. You've shown on this blog that you can test liquids. Random liquid testing would be sufficient to limit threats.

Actually, perfume is quite flammable, being primarily alcohol. Along with the flammability of the liquid, the 3.4oz serves to keep the volume controlled. Yes, you could use your quart size baggie to put as many 3.4oz containers within it, which might get you maybe 4 of them in and it still close, but still, the total volume is considered when measuring the safety factor.

Anonymous said...Why is one large bottle of perfume not allowed to be carried on but several smaller bottles are permitted? It is the same volume of liquid. The larger bottle could even be put inside ziplock bag too if you are concerned about limiting the total volume.

Of course I don't see why liquids are still banned. You've shown on this blog that you can test liquids. Random liquid testing would be sufficient to limit threats.

February 5, 2014 at 11:50 AM

...............................The TSA LGA ban is just more theater.

There is little threat from LGA's and this policy should be abandoned.

Your right that random testing would mitigate any threat but TSA is to busy feeling up peoples crotches to do any real security.

And TSA can't use the lack of manpower argument since we know that all of TSA's BDO's offer nothing to the security equation.

we still need to have these reminders because so many feel they can still travel with anything they want regardless of the rules, such as the jerks that still bring guns and knives. Please let TSA do their job and keep us safe. Stop with the "check the other person" "Don't check me I am ok"all the same time people are still out there to hurt us anyway possible. I welcome these messages they keep me informed.

"Why is one large bottle of perfume not allowed to be carried on but several smaller bottles are permitted?"

Because even though stable liquid explosives don't exist, and even though TSA has never intercepted a single dangerous liquid, and even though the "liquid bombers" arrested in London in 2006 did not actually have liquid explosives, let alone passports or airline tickets, TSA thinks this pointless and easily circumvented protocol gives the appearance of security.